Jonathan Lost Because He FloutedZoning Deal – PDP

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Jonathan Lost Because He FloutedZoning Deal – PDP

The national vice chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), South-south, Cairo Ojougboh, has opened up on the loss of PDP at the presidential election, blaming it on the refusal of former President Goodluck Jonathan to abide by the power shift pact.


Dr Ojougboh, who spoke with some newsmen in Abuja yesterday admitted that Jonathan in 2011 agreed to serve for one term, but could not summon the courage to resist the advances by some party leaders not to stick to the agreement.
He said the northern region therefore rejected Jonathan and voted President Muhammadu Buhari, because the former president went against the subsisting gentleman agreement of 1998 that the North would return to power after his first term in 2011.


Recounting how the rotational arrangement emerged in 1998 Dr Ojougboh said “PDP had the first shot, everybody cooperated, Obasanjo became president. After eight years, it was the turn of the North to become president then problem started. Some people started toying with the idea of third term. PDP said no, PDP members of the National Assembly and other parties said no, it will not work. The PDP had to produce a candidate and that is how Yar’adua came. Unfortunately, Yar’adua did not survive,
so the North said look this presidency is our own, we have to utilise our allotted eight years and they were right.


“Jonathan himself said he will do only four years. Emirs, leaders and stakeholders in the country accepted that Jonathan will do only four years so that the power can shift to the North.
When time came, a lot of macabre dances started; people started putting pressure here and there and people started encouraging Jonathan to contest. Unfortunately, Jonathan didn’t have the nerves to say no, I will keep my agreement.


“So Jonathan contesting meant that zoning formula had been breached. The North didn’t take kindly to it; they said no, this is not what we agreed,” he said.
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